Tatyana Mineeva of Russia wins the final of the Women's 10,000m Race Walk (© Getty Images)
Just minutes after walking to a sizzling Championship record in the women’s 10,000m Race Walk the diminutive Russian race walker, Tatyana Mineeva, was asked by the waiting press where she lived.
When she answered Saransk it raised a number of knowing nods as the city, 630km to the east of Moscow, has carved out a proud reputation as one of the global powerbases of race walking.
Coached in her home town by the great Victor Chogin – who has also guided the careers of former World 20km record holder Vladimir Kanaykin and Olympic 50km silver medallist Denis Nizhegorodov – it is little surprise Mineeva is reaping the rewards in her first serious season at the 10km distance.
Great school of race walking
Here in Bydgoszcz she completely obliterated the field, forging ahead of her compatriot and nearest pursuer Elmira Alembekova before halfway and recording a stunning 43:24.72 – shattering the previous mark held by Lyudmila Yefimkina by a monster 43 seconds.
“It was a dream for me but I always believed it was possible,” she told the IAAF of her joy of taking the title.
Saransk along with Cheboksary are the great schools of Russian race walking and it is a measure of the strength and appeal of the discipline she has never considered running an option.
“I was never very good at physical sports until I started race walking at the age of 14,” explained Mineeva, who stands at just 1.54m tall. “It suddenly happened for me. Maybe it is a talent.”
Under her first coach, Vadim Kabanov, she carved out a reputation as a walker of rich promise. However, since linking up with Chogin last autumn she has made huge progress and recently become a member of the national squad.
No time for hobbies
She secured her place on the Russian team in Bydgoszcz after romping to victory at the Russian Junior Championships in her fledgling season over the 10km distance – she previously competed over 5km.
And once she hit the front here at the Zawisza Stadium the result of the 25-lap race was never in doubt.
Mineeva believes hard training – she race walks for a maximum of 26km a day – and quality coaching have contributed to her current success.
But such is her commitment to the sport she admitted there is little opportunity for other interests.
“I take my walking seriously and there is little time for hobbies,” she explained. “But when I get chance I like to go to the cinema, the disco or maybe reading.”
Steve Landells for the IAAF
